Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi advises Indian college students in US to be “watchful”.

New York:

Amid a string of tragic and regarding incidents involving Indian college students within the US, former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi has suggested them to be “watchful”, respect native legal guidelines and urged them to not have interaction in medication or extreme ingesting to make sure their security and safety on this nation.

Ms Nooyi, thought of among the many strongest and influential enterprise executives globally, issued an over 10-minute lengthy video advising Indian college students coming to the US to remain secure and alert and to keep away from actions that may land them in hassle. The video was posted on X by the Consulate Common of India in New York on Thursday.

“The explanation I am recording this video is to speak to all of you, all you younger individuals who want to come to the US or are right here already pursuing your research, as a result of I have been studying and listening to all of the information about a number of examples of Indian college students discovering themselves in unlucky conditions,” Ms Nooyi, 68, mentioned within the video.

“It is as much as you to be sure to do what it takes to stay secure…keep inside the legislation, don’t enterprise out into darkish locations alone at evening, don’t have interaction in medication or extreme ingesting please. All of those are simply formulae for catastrophe,” she mentioned.

Ms Nooyi pleaded with the scholars coming to the US to “select your college and course rigorously”. She added that coming to the US to pursue increased schooling is usually a “cultural sea change” for a lot of as a result of they’re away from the comforts of their households, communities and ecosystems.

For Indian college students finding out/planning to check in the US of America 🇺🇸 : a really helpful video message by Ms. @Indra_Noooyi, former Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia@EduMinOfIndia@binaysrikant76@IndianEmbassyUS@CGI_Atlanta@cgihou… pic.twitter.com/EWTrdKd4tg

— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) March 22, 2024

“So once you come to the US, be very watchful within the preliminary months of your touchdown right here, by way of who you choose as buddies, the brand new habits you develop and the way you address cultural modifications as a result of it is very straightforward to get caught up with all of the freedoms you’ve gotten and assume that it’s best to experiment with the whole lot. Be very, very cautious.” She famous that whereas Indian college students are identified for his or her onerous work and success, there are additionally incidents of some children experimenting with and finally getting hooked on medication resembling Fentanyl.

“That is deadly. Let me repeat, that is deadly,” she mentioned, including that these are extraordinarily dangerous medication impacting psychological and bodily well being and can “undoubtedly be detrimental to your profession prospects right here”.

“Please don’t verge into this entire space of experimenting with harmful stuff. Most significantly, don’t partake in illegal actions, perceive the legislation and keep inside the legislation,” she mentioned.

Ms Nooyi added that many worldwide college students usually are not accustomed to the legal guidelines and laws of the host nation. “It is very important know the results of your actions and therefore you must keep alert on a regular basis,” she mentioned.

“You have to know your visa standing and its permissibility in the direction of part-time employment. Don’t violate the legislation,” she mentioned, including that the scholars should know the “boundaries of what you are able to do as a overseas pupil in the US”.

Ms Nooyi additionally urged college students to pay attention to the “secure areas” within the metropolis wherein they’re residing or travelling. “Please keep away from shady neighbourhoods. Don’t enterprise out late into the evening alone or don’t enterprise out very late within the evening in any respect,” she mentioned, advising the scholars to exit in teams and with buddies.

Ms Nooyi’s message comes amid a string of troubling circumstances pertaining to the security and safety of Indian college students within the US. Because the starting of this yr, a number of circumstances of deaths amongst Indian and Indian-origin college students have induced alarm and concern among the many neighborhood.

This week, the Consulate mentioned it’s working with native legislation enforcement authorities to find 25-year-old Indian pupil Mohammad Abdul Arfath, who has been lacking because the starting of this month, in Cleveland.

Indian-American Sameer Kamath, 23, a pupil at Purdue College who was discovered useless in a nature protect in Indiana in February, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the top, in response to authorities.

In January, 18-year-old Akul Dhawan, a College of Illinois pupil, was discovered unresponsive exterior a campus constructing. Investigations revealed that he died on account of hypothermia, with authorities ruling that acute alcohol intoxication and extended publicity to extraordinarily chilly temperatures considerably contributed to his demise. In one other tragedy that month, 25-year-old Indian pupil Vivek Saini was hammered to demise by a homeless drug addict in Georgia.

Ms Nooyi underscored that the US provides phenomenal instructional alternatives, and is multicultural and welcoming. She, nonetheless, added that finding out within the US is “in no way low cost, it is very costly and wouldn’t essentially safe a job for you right here at the moment”.

“It isn’t assured. Nor ought to or not it’s your goal on this globalised world, the place India itself is providing enormous numbers of alternatives for educated folks,” she mentioned.

Ms Nooyi urged the scholars to be “very conscious” of the sources out there to them of their universities and native communities, “strongly” suggesting that college students have interaction with the college assist system, the native Indian consulates and native Indian Individuals to be taught from their experiences and search their assist when wanted.

She additionally appealed to the scholars to watch out for scams, together with on social media, that will dupe them of their cash and sources. She harassed the necessity for college students to care for their psychological well being and nicely being, keep linked with buddies, households and assist teams.
 

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